Alyssa A Gamaldo1, Angie L Sardina2, Angelina Sutin3, Tiana E Cruz4, Rachel Marie E Salas5, Charlene E Gamaldo5, Orfeu M Buxton6, Ross Andel7. 1. Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. Electronic address: aag46@psu.edu. 2. School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC. 3. Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL. 4. Counseling Center Research Unit, University of Maryland, College Park, MD. 5. Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD. 6. Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's, Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. 7. School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between personality traits and sleep in community-dwelling older Blacks, and to examine whether conscientiousness moderates relationships between neuroticism and sleep (quality and duration) within this cohort. METHOD: Black adults (age range: 55-86 years) residing in the Tampa Bay Area, Florida, completed the Big Five Inventory to examine broad personality traits (e.g., neuroticism) and specific facets (e.g., anxiety or depression) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to evaluate sleep habits and quality. RESULTS: Ninety-three participants (Mean age: 66.6, standard deviation: 7.4) were included in the final sample. High neuroticism, low extraversion, low conscientiousness, and low openness were each significantly associated with worse overall sleep habits. Individuals high on the facets for neuroticism (e.g., anxiety, depression) and/or low for extraversion (e.g., assertiveness), conscientiousness (e.g., self-discipline and order), and openness (e.g., aesthetics and ideas) were more likely to report poorer sleep. However, only neuroticism and extraversion each remained significantly associated with worse sleep in our regression models adjusting for demographic and health covariates. Adults with both higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness indicated a greater likelihood for experiencing daytime dysfunction within this population. CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing specific personality traits associated with disrupted sleep, particularly in those who self-identify as Black, may enhance the ability of sleep clinicians to diagnose and deliver more personalized treatments and interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy). The present study's findings further support existing literature, suggesting that clinicians should incorporate personality assessments to identify individuals most susceptible to severe sleep disturbances.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between personality traits and sleep in community-dwelling older Blacks, and to examine whether conscientiousness moderates relationships between neuroticism and sleep (quality and duration) within this cohort. METHOD: Black adults (age range: 55-86 years) residing in the Tampa Bay Area, Florida, completed the Big Five Inventory to examine broad personality traits (e.g., neuroticism) and specific facets (e.g., anxiety or depression) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to evaluate sleep habits and quality. RESULTS: Ninety-three participants (Mean age: 66.6, standard deviation: 7.4) were included in the final sample. High neuroticism, low extraversion, low conscientiousness, and low openness were each significantly associated with worse overall sleep habits. Individuals high on the facets for neuroticism (e.g., anxiety, depression) and/or low for extraversion (e.g., assertiveness), conscientiousness (e.g., self-discipline and order), and openness (e.g., aesthetics and ideas) were more likely to report poorer sleep. However, only neuroticism and extraversion each remained significantly associated with worse sleep in our regression models adjusting for demographic and health covariates. Adults with both higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness indicated a greater likelihood for experiencing daytime dysfunction within this population. CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing specific personality traits associated with disrupted sleep, particularly in those who self-identify as Black, may enhance the ability of sleep clinicians to diagnose and deliver more personalized treatments and interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy). The present study's findings further support existing literature, suggesting that clinicians should incorporate personality assessments to identify individuals most susceptible to severe sleep disturbances.
Authors: Darlynn M Rojo-Wissar; Amal A Wanigatunga; Eleanor M Simonsick; Antonio Terracciano; Mark N Wu; Vadim Zipunnikov; Jennifer A Schrack; Sharmin Hossain; Luigi Ferrucci; Paul T Costa; Adam P Spira Journal: Sleep Date: 2021-09-13 Impact factor: 6.313